McDonnell once again plodded viewers of the Andrew Marr show through Labour’s labyrinthine conditions for calling the second referendum that 72 per cent of its voters want.

If the Brexit deal doesn’t meet Labour’s conditions such as not hurting jobs and the economy, Labour will call for a general election, and if they can’t have that, “the option on the table will be to go back to the people”, said McDonnell, as though he had all the time in the world and a general election had not already been quashed.

“I’m getting bored of this table,” said Marr, “It’s always on the table and it’s now quite close to the time we have to take a decision.”

Reflecting on anti-referendum comments by Len McClusky, he said it was right that a second referendum should only be held “in extremis; if you can’t get a deal agreed through parliament, or if any deal you thought wasn’t going to protect jobs and the economy.”

Accused of running down the clock because his party’s leadership doesn’t really want a second referendum, McDonnell replied: “That’s not the case because for the last few years we’ve been saying to the Prime Minister, pick up the phone and talk to us.

You've seen the news, now discover the story

Become a Supporter

The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.